Osteospermum plant named &#39;doostmarwhi 22&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant named ‘Doostmarwhi 22’, characterized by its compact, broadly upright, uniform and mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely and uniformly branching habit; freely and early flowering habit; large single-type inflorescences with white-colored ray florets faintly and variably blushed with dark purple; and good garden performance.

Botanical Designation: Osteospermum ecklonis.

Cultivar Denomination: ‘DOOSTMARWHI 22’.

CROSS REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATION

An European Community Plant Breeder’s Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Applicant/Assignee, Dümmen Group B.V. of De Lier, The Netherlands on Dec. 14, 2021, application number 2021/3291 and published on Apr. 15, 2022.

Foreign priority is claimed to this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum plant, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Doostmarwhi 22’.

The new Osteospermum plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Puerto Lumbreras, Spain and De Lier, The Netherlands. The objective of the program is to create and develop new compact Osteospermum plants that are freely and uniformly branching with numerous large inflorescences with unique and attractive ray and disc floret coloration.

The new Osteospermum plant originated from a cross-pollination by the Inventor during the winter of 2015 of a proprietary selection of Osteospermum ecklonis identified as code number QQ12-000056-002, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Osteospermum ecklonis identified as code number QQ12-000053-010, not patented, as the male, or seed, parent. The new Osteospermum plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands in July, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Osteospermum plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in De Lier, The Netherlands since August, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Osteospermum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Osteospermum have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Doostmarwhi 22’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Doostmarwhi 22’ as a new and distinct Osteospermum plant:

-   1. Compact, broadly upright, uniform and mounding plant habit. -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit. -   3. Freely and uniformly branching habit. -   4. Freely and early flowering habit. -   5. Large single-type inflorescences with white-colored ray florets     that are slightly and variably blushed with dark purple. -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Osteospermum differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in ray floret orientation as ray florets of plants of the new Osteospermum are more imbricate than ray florets of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Osteospermum differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in ray floret aspect as ray florets of plants of the new Osteospermum are straight and flat whereas ray florets of plants of the male parent selection are rolled and reflexed.

Plants of the new Osteospermum can be compared to plants of the Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Margarita White’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Osteospermum differ primarily from plants of ‘Margarita White’ in the following characteristics:

-   1. Plants of the new Osteospermum have shorter lateral branches than     plants of ‘Margarita White’. -   2. Plants of the new Osteospermum have smaller leaves than plants of     ‘Margarita White’. -   3. Ray florets of plants of the new Osteospermum are broader and     more imbricate than ray florets of plants of ‘Margarita White’ .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

FIG. 1 The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Osteospermum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Osteospermum plant. The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Doostmarwhi 22’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph, following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the summer and autumn in 10.5-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Osteospermum production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 30° C. and night temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 18° C. Plants were pinched five weeks after sticking unrooted cuttings; plants were 13 weeks old when the photograph was taken and 15 weeks old when the description was taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, Fifth Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification:     -   Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Doostmarwhi 22’. -   Parentage:     -   Female, or seed, parent—.—Proprietary selection of Osteospermum         ecklonis identified as code number QQ12-000056-002, not         patented.     -   Male, or pollen, parent—.—Proprietary selection of Osteospermum         ecklonis identified as code number QQ12-000053-010, not         patented. -   Propagation:     -   Type—.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.     -   Time to initiate roots, summer—.—About 18 days at temperatures         about 22° C. to 30° C.     -   Time to initiate roots, winter—.—About 21 days at temperatures         about 22° C. to 30° C.     -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer—.—About 25 days at         temperatures about 22° C. to 30° C.     -   Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter—.—About 28 days at         temperatures about 20° C. to 25° C.     -   Root description—.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically         whitish grey in color, actual color of the roots is dependent on         substrate composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate         temperature and age of roots.     -   Rooting habit—.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   Plant form and growth habit—.—Compact, broadly upright, uniform         and mounding plant habit; freely branching habit, dense and         bushy growth habit; moderately vigorous growth habit and         moderate growth rate.     -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane—.—About 15 cm. .     -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane—.—About 19.5 cm.         .     -   Plant diameter—.—About 25.5 cm.     -   Lateral branches—.—Quantity per plant: Freely branching habit,         about eight primary lateral branches each with about two to four         secondary lateral branches developing per plant; pinching         enhances lateral branch development. Length: About 8 cm to         10 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm. Internode length: About 1 cm.         Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Smooth,         glabrous; semi-glossy. .Color, developing: Close to 144C. Color,         developed: Close to 148A.     -   Leaf description—.—Arrangement: Opposite, simple. Length: About         6 cm. Width: About 2.3 cm. Shape: Spatulate. Apex: Acute. Base:         Attenuate. Margin: Dentate and lobing; sinuses are medium in         depth and divergent. Texture and luster, upper surface:         Pubescent; leathery; slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower         surface: Smooth, glabrous; leathery; slightly dull. Venation         pattern: Pinnate. Color: Developing leaves, upper surface: Close         to 137B. .Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137D.         .Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,         close to 137C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to         147D; venation, close to 147D.     -   Petioles—.—Length: About 3.5 cm to 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.         Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; slightly         glossy. Strength: Moderately strong. Color, upper and lower         surfaces: Close to 146C. -   Inflorescence description:     -   Appearance and aspect—.—Terminal and axillary inflorescences;         inflorescences positioned beyond the foliar plane on strong         peduncles and face mostly upright to outwardly; single-type         inflorescence form with lanceolate-shaped ray florets and         tubular disc florets; ray and disc florets developing         acropetally on a capitulum.     -   Flowering habit—.—Freely flowering habit; about 20 to 40         inflorescence buds and open inflorescences per plant. .     -   Fragrance—.—None detected.     -   Flowering response—.—In The Netherlands, plants of the new         Osteospermum flower continuously from spring until first frost         in the autumn; early flowering habit, plants begin flowering         about 50 to 60 days after rooting cuttings.     -   Inflorescence longevity—.—Inflorescences last about two weeks on         the plant; inflorescences not persistent.     -   Inflorescence buds—.—Height: About 1.3 cm, depending on stage of         development. Diameter: About 7 mm, depending on stage of         development. Shape: Flattened globular. Texture and luster:         Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 137A.     -   Inflorescence size—.—Diameter: About 7.8 cm. Depth (height):         About 1.6 cm. Disc diameter: About 1 cm. Receptacle diameter:         About 8 mm. Receptacle height: About 4 mm. Receptacle color:         Close to 137A.     -   Ray florets—.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement: About         16 to 18 arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 3.5 cm.         Width: About 1.4 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Obtuse. Base:         Cuneate. Margin: Entire; not undulate. Aspect: Mostly flat.         Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;         matte. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to         NN155C faintly and variably blushed with close to N187A. Fully         opened, upper surface: Close to NN155C faintly and variably         blushed with close to N187A; venation, similar to lamina colors;         color does not change with subsequent development. Fully opened,         lower surface: Close to N187A; venation, close to N187A; color         does not change with subsequent development.     -   Disc florets—.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement: About         50 arranged in about six to eight whorls. Length: About 4 mm.         Diameter: About 1 mm. Shape: Tubular with five obtuse apices.         Aspect: Upright. Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte.         .Color: When developing, inner and outer surfaces: Close to 93C.         Fully developed, inner and outer surfaces: Close to between 93A         and 93C; venation, close to 93C; color becoming closer to 93C         with subsequent development.     -   Phyllaries—.—Quantity per inflorescence and arrangement: About         16 to 20 arranged in a single whorl. Length: About 8 mm. Width:         About 1 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin:         Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,         glabrous; matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 137A.     -   Peduncles—.—Length: About 5 cm to 8 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.         Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright to outwardly slanting.         Texture and luster: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: Close         to 144A.     -   Reproductive organs—.—Androecium: Present on disc florets only.         Filament length: About 4 mm. Filament color: Close to 17A.         Anther size: About 1.5 mm by 9 mm. Anther shape: Narrowly         elliptic. Anther color: Close to 6A. Pollen amount: Moderate.         Pollen color: Close to 17B. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and         disc florets. Pistil length: About 7 mm. Stigma shape:         Bi-parted. Stigma color: Close to 7A. Style length: About 3 mm.         Style color: Close to 2A. Ovary color: Close to 145C.     -   Fruits and seeds—.—To date, fruit and seed development has not         been observed on plants of the new Osteospermum. -   Pathogen & pest resistance:     -   To date, plants of the new Osteospermum have not been observed         to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Osteospermum         plants. -   Garden performance:     -   Plants of the new Osteospermum have been observed to have good         garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and temperatures         ranging from about 5° C. to about 35° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Osteospermum plant named ‘Doostmarwhi 22’ as illustrated and described. 